to move to chicago or not... (Peoria, Columbia: credit score, school, college)

[miranda1216]

i am 17 years old and want to move to chicago. i recently visited and have always loved the city but just realized that i want to live there. i was going to try to attend college there but i live out of state and it is VERY expensive ... so i now don't know if i should just do it or attend a college in state and move there after college?? i don tknow what steps i should take to get to that point or even what i need to do?? any advice?? thanks

[Avengerfire]

When do you turn 18? You will have a hard time establishing things until you are 18 or over.

[JustinHaugens]

Join the Air National Guard in Peoria, live in Chicago for a year, start attending UIC once the year is closed. You'll qualify for in-state tuition!

[JustinHaugens]

I forgot that you are an in-state student after a year anyway...

[knitgirl]

Get an education first.

[confessorfeliciano1]

Move to chicago isn't such a good Idea, I suggest that you only visit chicago. Cause visiting and living in it are two basically different things I lived in Chicago for two years, trying to look for a decent job and the only thing I got was dead end jobs. There were many times that I contemplated my life. My bitterest moments were me living in Chicago especially living and walking outside in the bitter snow waiting for a CTA bus that takes forever.

[HillaryClare]

From personal experience, I'd suggest that you attend college in your state and then move to Chicago after you graduate, if that's what you still want four or five years from now. Out of state tuition is incredibly expensive and I think it'll be a lot easier for you to move to the city after you have a college degree, a credit score and experience living on your own.

I'd also suggest that when you're about to enter your junior or senior year of college, apply for an internship in the Chicago area. I did this last summer and it served as a great trial run and helped me decide that I really did want to live in Chicago once I graduated. Internships can be expensive and I couldn't have survived if mine was unpaid, but luckily it was paid and I made enough to support myself while I was there for three months. I wouldn't trade my internship experience for anything, plus it gave me professional experience to put on my resume.

Good luck! =)

[aragx6]

Yes, out of state tuition is expensive, but the OP would only have to pay for one year before establishing residency. I have no idea what their finances look like, but that's probably doable for most people who really want it.

As someone who went to a mega state school in a quintessential college town, I often wonder what I missed out by not going to school in the city. Of friends I know who did, they found internships more readily, had loads of business contacts in the area after graduation as well as an automatic circle of friends (Everyone ran from Columbia the day after graduation and return only for Homecoming), and invaluable experience living in the city.